American Idol vs Olympic Performers
Posted on 17. Feb, 2010 by Per Bristow in American Idol, Performance, Singing
So American Idol has reached Hollywood and the winter Olympics have begun. Now let’s say you want to be able to perform at a higher level than you are today and under pressure. Let’s say you want to be able to elevate your skills. Which one should you watch to learn the most from?…
In American Idol we have arrived at Hollywood week. For most of the singers this is an absolute dream come true. They are beside themselves at the possibility and the opportunity that has proven to follow success in American Idol. What if they can become the next American Idol?
And in Vancouver, the Olympic athletes have arrived at the moment they have trained towards for the last 4 years.
Now what is the big difference between American Idol contestants and Olympic Athletes?
Well, here’s one: Last week we saw tears of desperation from the American Idol contestants who did not make it to the next round. Several people choked in the heat of the moment and forgot lyrics. Simon Cowell had of course added to the pressure when he proclaimed that “if you forget the lyrics” you’re out. And others didn’t do as well as they could and begged for another chance.
But the interesting part is how poorly they handled defeat. Several contestants were completely heartbroken, apologetic, ashamed or angry: “Sorry mom”, “I blew my one chance,” or someone defiantly screamed they could have been the next American Idol.. They were speaking as if their one chance in life to be something worthy had been crushed. They spoke as if their careers were over.
What they don’t realize is that this fear of not being good enough is exactly the reason they choked. They had built up this belief that this is the one chance in their life to prove something. Their whole behavior is fear based. Their singing is based on trying to prove themselves rather than communicating a song with love, joy and passion. Frankly, many come across as quite immature.
But American Idol is no Olympics. You want pressure – compete in the Olympics. You want to ensure that you don’t get another chance – compete in the Olympics.
But here’s the big difference: Athletes do not operate with fear. Great performers aren’t afraid of losing. They may hate to lose but they aren’t afraid of losing. Listen to athletes – real athletes – when they speak. Listen to them when they fail and listen to them when they succeed.
Tonight is a great opportunity to watch the veteran snowboarder Shaun White in Snowboarding. Now there is someone who will be extremely nervous. The pressure is enormous. He won four years ago and everybody is expecting him to win and to perform a trick no one has done before. That, my friends, is pressure. But listen to him when he talks. I don’t know if he will succeed or “fail” tonight. But listen to his attitude in either situation and you’ll understand why he excels so often. Learn about the enormous work and preparation he and other athletes undertake.
For them it is a constant never ending search for improvement. Now, I said Shaun White is a veteran. But did you know that he is only 23? Yes, that’s right, he won the previous Olympics when he was 19, after having fallen in the first run, then got up and outdid himself. That is a true performer. At 19 he was younger than most American Idol contestants who can’t seem to handle falling down even once.
To everyone who wants to become a singer, I urge you to watch and learn from someone like Shaun who knows what it takes to excel.
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64 Responses to “American Idol vs Olympic Performers”
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[...] American Idol Vs, Olympic Performers |6 Responses to “American Idol vs Olympic Performers”. Colin Says: February 17th, 2010 at 5:09 pm. Nice post
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[...] American Idol Vs, Olympic Performers |6 Responses to “American Idol vs Olympic Performers”. Colin Says: February 17th, 2010… [...]
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Pete Sharp
18. Feb, 2010
I would judge by the level on American Idol & it's British version that these performers do not put in anywhere near the energy into learning their skill in comparison to Athletes. Some have talent, no doubt, but talent is not enough, singing & performance are learnt skills. I believe these people want a quick fix or short cut to fame & fortune rather than put the effort in to become a great performer worthy of listening to. It's a throw away consumer society, I find it shocking that there are enough people wiling to buy this under achieving drivel to make Simon Cowel so rich. I suspect Simon secretly agrees
Kelesi Woodhouse
18. Feb, 2010
Hear Hear! Sometimes I wonder if all the drama is for the benefit of the ratings. Dummy spits seem to rate as entertainment these days. I am also a fan of So You Think You Can Dance. The same applies. These dancers, & I have been one, so I understand the demanding regimen undertaken by dancers, are the same as the athletes. Humility, dedication & passion. These are the qualities required by anyone wanting to achieve something worthwhile. Greatness is earned by the application of these qualities. Drama is simply evidence of the small self which will ultimately reveal its motives. I have taught singing for 22 years & have been a singer all my life. I am constantly reminding my students: this is not about you. This is a about communicating, with 100% commitment, the song. You are in service to your audience. If your commitment is genuine you may be fortunate enough to experience the love flowing both ways ;-D
Thanks for your wisdom and support
Kelesi
Judit Catan
18. Feb, 2010
I Can't agree more with the concept that fear of failure is the greatest obstacle to excellence and success. I have been involved with so many people who are in this predicament, not least my own daughter who is right now grapling with this very thing. 'I am not good enough' and 'fear of falling' are the greatest obstacles to success or even being able to perform your own best, let alone improve. So yes Per, you are making a most excellent point. We need to be able to embrace potential 'failure' and move forward to do what we have to do with joy, love and committment. The true anointing to any performer is that he or she would be singing for the love of it and for the pleasure of it without the constant fear of failure that so destroys the real gift. Thanks Per.
Lucija
18. Feb, 2010
You said things that I knew before, but didn't realise that it will be so nice and important to hear it from someone else. Like a kind of a support I guess. We all need it from time to time. Thanks, you made my day!
Brian Thompson
18. Feb, 2010
The thing we should not overlook is that those athletes who never get a medal, who enter in the full knowledge that they will never reach the top ten, have also practiced for 10,000 hours or more. They may not be winners – but they most cerainly NOT LOSERS!!!
To devote 10, 000 hours, or – better still – to devote a lifetime to being the best that you can be, regardless of how others might evaluate your performance, is surely the most laudable of goals!
I think we sometimes get misled by terminology. Remember, the word 'amateur' comes from the Latin verb – amare – meaning 'to love.' Thus, it is not really the opposite of 'professional,' which simply means that you receive a financial reward for your efforts. And I cannot imagine that there are many athletes, or singers, who get paid for their efforsts who do not love what they do.
I am now 80. As a child I was led to believe that my singing was dreadful – and it may very well have been. But that led to me never even trying to sing until I was in my 40's. Even then, I sang with 'judgement' rather than 'freedom' – and for many years was truly bad. But I persevered, and gradually got to the point when I was appearing as a 'lead' in local amateur productions. It took me far too long – because I didn't discover the Per Bristow approach until a few months ago. In some ways I regret all those wasted years – but on the other hand, perhaps it makes me truly value what I have achieved.
I will never be famous: I will never be well known. And I have practiced for many more than 10,000 hours. But my reward is, to me, just as great as a gold medal would be to a champion athlete. There are people out there, now, who like to listen to me singing – and what better reward is there than that?
Brian.
Michael Lu
17. Feb, 2010
The fear that one adds to himself is much more terrible than the fear itself.
Fear surely reduces the chances and opportinities to at least perform naturaly.
Anyway,great point of view.
Cathy
17. Feb, 2010
Per, you are so right. The Olympic athletes are so tough. I just watched Lindsay win the downhill. And Julia, who got the silver today, drew a picture of herself when she was just a child of herself winning a downhill Olympic medal. These people have truly put in the time and effort, and they never give up, after injuries and setbacks. They plan their journey and do all that it takes to make it happen. On to Shaun White!
joe
17. Feb, 2010
Hi,
I can not open the stuff u sent 2 me.
Sorry, have a nice day.
Wayne Young
17. Feb, 2010
Excellent Per,
What I got from your blog was the artist and the athlete are a lot a like.
They both must focus on what they want and not on what they don't want.
I believe that an artist & an athlete must to something everyday towards their goal to win. It's a way of life.
Gazz
17. Feb, 2010
What Nelson said,
10,000 hours was a well conducted investigation by Malcom Gladwell (& co.) which is best explained in his book, Outliers. Such extrodinary people devoted, on average, 10,000 hours to their specific work – be it snowboarding, tennis, and quite interestingly, computer programming (Bill Gates). I've the belief that after reading deep into Per's posts and insight's that this 10,000 hours can be cut down to less if one is more conscious about their actions and what they're trying to achieve. Especially when 'pure' (your best singing voice) singing is when your using a singular muscle near your throat. If you work that baby out, but are very aware/more aware when using it, you can speed up your learning process significantly. Eh Per?
Nelson
17. Feb, 2010
The difference between American Idol and The Olympics? About 10 000 hrs practice.
This is the generally accepted timespan that it takes to master any activity, be it a musical instrument, artistic technique or sport. It is obvious to me that certain American Idol contestants have never spent even one hour listening to a playback of their voices, and then systematicly correcting their faults. My singing career started when I first heard a recording of my voice. It was the most sobering moment of my life. Practice makes you focused, Disciplined, Humble, less likely to crack under pressure. Watch Rodger Federer for inspiration, not an American Idol star.
Chris McKenna
17. Feb, 2010
Great post, Per. It's the difference between professionals and amateurs….
"The professional self-validates. She is tough-minded. In the face of indifference or adulation, she assesses her stuff coldly and objectively. Where it fell short, she'll improve it. Where it triumphed, she'll make it better still. She'll work harder. She'll be back tomorrow."
-The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield. It's a must-read for any aspiring artist.
Chris
17. Feb, 2010
Rock on, Per. Thanks for this reminder!
Marjorie
17. Feb, 2010
A performance is a performance; it doesn't matter in what aspect. If you fail to prepare, you are prepared for failure. Success will not fall on us overnight. It takes DISCIPLINE.
loveunltd
17. Feb, 2010
I dont watch American Idol. There is something sketch about it. A weird desperation. To me , to go on that show is a career curse. And I dont like Simon. It all has high cringe factor. Its TV. Id rather be singing to my girlfriend on a Saturday night.
Victoria
17. Feb, 2010
How true. I remember equating the adjudication of my performance with my personal worth and acceptance. I got over that after a while and went on to value the adjudication as a means for improvement of my craft/art. That is what the athletes have to do. They look at how they can improve, not at the placement in the race.
Bob
17. Feb, 2010
Awesome article Per. Its aout time people start making this comparison. My opinon is that its more than an analogy. Sport is performance nothing more or less, and is an outgrowth of dance. Since singing is also an outgrowth of dance, many more people should be making the analogy that you have made here. Would love to hear more from you Per, see my email.
Bridget
17. Feb, 2010
When fear enters the equasion, you block your natural intelligence and talent and things become a struggle. Letting go of fear is lifes great lesson, regardless of circumstances.
Maria
17. Feb, 2010
I can't wait to see Shaun White. Great comparison with AI – puts it all in perspective and all in connection. Thank you Per
Colin
17. Feb, 2010
Nice post